7 smart and sassy crime fiction writers dish on writing and life.
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Friday, June 9, 2017

Author Websites: What's the point?

The 24% was Goodreads and Amazon

A few weeks ago, I was playing around on the
poll taking option on Twitter. I wanted to get a sense of how readers
track their favorite author's latest releases. With only 57 respondents,
it's not like this was an in depth study by any means. But are readers really using FB more than an author's
webpage to find out about their new releases? Given that FB can be
hit or miss, it did give me something to ponder!

I thought I'd start this discussion with a
tour of the Jungle Red Writer's author websites. Feel free to check them out
and give us pointers on what you like and what you don't like. We can take it.
Right, ladies?

So, Reds,
what is your website address? Do you maintain it yourself or have a webmaster
do it for you? Do you find your website to be a way to reach out to your
readers?

JENN MCKINLAY:www.jennmckinlay.com I
maintain mine, which is one of the reasons I chose to have it hosted through my
Author's Guild membership. As Ingrid so wonderfully put it earlier this week, I
am a "control enthusiast". They have templates, which makes it very
easy to customize, and they have a support team who field questions when I can't
figure out how to do what I want. I do find it
a very handy tool to reach my readers, mostly because I use the newsletter
feature to send out quarterly(ish) notes to readers to keep them apprised of
books coming out, signings, etc.

HALLIE EPHRON:www.hallieephron.com I
structured this web site back when my first suspense novel came out. My
daughter did the visual design and I hired a programmer who implemented it in
WordPress. It's super flexible. I add new books as they come out; new events,
new reviews go right up. And that keeps the cost way down -- all I pay for is
hosting and my domain name and my expert swings by if something breaks (they
"upgrade" the software) or I need some new bell or whistle. Now if I could
figure out how to pay myself...I
think of my website as my portable PR kit. I want to make it as easy as
possible for readers to find me at events or contact me or the wonderful
publicist I get to work with at Morrow. And, of course, buy my books!

LUCY
BURDETTE:www.lucyburdette.com and for the previous
series, www.robertaisleib.com.
Oh lord, I know they need work! My Lucy website is through Wordpress and I
picked a theme which is too complicated. I
will be happy to hear suggestions--or maybe I'll end up choosing an author's
guild template and starting over...

DEBORAH CROMBIE:www.deborahcrombie.com
My hub designed my website. I love it. It's
clean, easy to navigate, has a gorgeous photo of London as the background, and
all my books in order. Also, you can expand or print the maps from
any of the books. However, we argue about who gets to do the updating, so
moving that to the top of my list!

INGRID THOFT: I
hired a woman who specializes in author websites to create mine at www.ingridthoft.com I
update it myself, which usually means, that I screw it up and my husband, the
software developer, fixes it! One thing I
love about my website is the photograph that serves as the backdrop. It
shows Boston from a somewhat different angle, and it's so atmospheric. The
Boston-area photographer, Bob Lussier, let me purchase the right to use the
photo on my bookmarks and business cards. I love it so much, I gave
prints of it to my agent and editor when LOYALTY was published. I'm on
the fence about how important websites are to readers, and I'm eager to hear
some feedback today!

HANK
PHILLIPPI RYAN: www.HankPhillippiRyan.com (Next
life, I am getting an easier name.) I have a web designer and maven, the
wonderful Maddee James of xuni.com, who has worked with me on three
incarnations of it: the Charlie McNally look, the Jane Ryland look, and the
"Hank is an author" look, which it has now, and I love. I mean love.
As for the inner workings, I have no idea. I send her calendar /schedule updates,
she puts them in. I send her announcements, she puts them in. There's all
kinds of bios of all sizes, photos of all types of me and the books, press
kits, tons of info for readers and writers. And reporters! And an easy contact
button--that comes directly to me!

But yeah--I
do ever go to an author's website? I've gotta say, unless I am writing an
article about them, or interviewing them, or just curious about what they look
like---not too often. What do you all think?

JENN:
Because my agent strongly encouraged me to update mine (i.e. add BUY buttons
for the books), I read a lot of articles on author websites. Here are my
top three favorites (if you know of others, feel free to share):

93 comments:

Yes, I enjoy visiting author websites. Ideally, I’d like to know if there’s a book tour schedule or some other opportunity for fans to meet the author; I’d also like to know about those great reviews and about nominations and awards.

Sites that I enjoy visiting have uncluttered pages, use an easy-to-read font, and make it easy to find information about their books and how to purchase them . . . and those are the things that keep me coming back to an author’s website.

What a great topic. I go to other authors' websites to find out if they have any events in my area, for example, or to find out what their Twitter handle is. It is surprising how many people make me hunt for their Twitter handle! It should be up front on top of every page so I don't have to work to help you spread the news about your book. My website is on wordpress and I need a new template, but it does have all my information: the books in order, the various series, how to sign up for my newsletter, recipes, buy buttons, of course, and so on. I do all the work on it myself, and I have a fabulous piece of unifying art called Edith's World - a real oil painting that hangs on my office wall.

I don't always go to an author's website. Usually, when an author first catches my attention, I go directly to Amazon, to see what he or she has out there, read reviews, and buy books. I do go to a lot of musician websites, though, and there I think an up-to-date press kit and calendar of appearances are vital. Update your bio every time you do a new, cool thing, folks! And by that, I don't mean you should just tack on another paragraph. Rewrite it. Also, let your website reflect your personality--your REAL personality. If you are short and round and always smiling, own it, and avoid the temptation to go for the smoldering, sexy, brooding photo. One of my favorite composer websites is Steven Bryant's. (www.stevenbryant.com) Steven composes lovely, challenging music, but he also has a goofball sense of humor. His online bio mentions break dancing, radio-controlled car racing, and his Bacon number. I think your readers go to your website to learn more about you. Don't hesitate to be yourself.

My first inclination is to visit Amazon to see what other books they have written. Then I head over to their website when I need to find more information about them for my blog. I like them to be clean, clear and easy to navigate. Also, I like to see their book list in order and updated (you'd be surprised at how many author's push their book on social media, but when you go to their website, the book is not even listed); contact page (again, you'd be surprised at how many authors don't have a contact page), their bio and an events page (again, updated info, please).

I visit author websites to get a list and synopsis of books. I also use it to check out any tour/book signing info. I like to check out author bios when I find a new author. I like sites that are easy to navigate and are clear and concise.

I rarely visit an author's webpage; when I do, it's because I want to know about other books they've written or when a new book is coming out--especially if it's been awhile! Usually, the front matter of a book will have a list of books by the author, especially if it's a series--that's often the easiest way to find their other titles. I also use fanfiction to see what's coming out. I like that it gives me suggestions for similar books if I click on a particular book.

I've been to all the Reds' websites. Whenever I hear about a new (to me) author, I go to their website to get an idea of the kind of books they write. I also like getting a glimpse of the authors themselves, which isn't really necessary, but is fun. In the past, all we used to have is the blurb at the back of the book. I also go to authors' websites to check out the event schedules. If my TBR pile is getting a little low, I go to my favorite authors' websites to see if there is any information about a new book.

Mea maxima culpa. I never go to authors' web sites with one exception. I went to Deb's because one of my friends did and saw my picture there. Of course I went to check it out. And I go back now and then to see if it's still there.

I have lots of ways to keep up with my reading: Amazon of course, Facebook of course, Jungle Red of course. Reviewers like Kristopher and my friend L.J., and most of all the NYT Sunday Book Review. I don't pay much attention to the best seller lists, because those are often the best marketer lists. Deb, again, is an exception.

But then I don't look many webpages period.

I have a friend whose avocation is website development and maintenance. He has a day job, but this is what he does for fun. He is very very very affordable, particularly if you tell him I sent you. tim@timandvictor.com I am not shilling for him, but if you need something, he is a tiny fraction of market price. Here's a sample of a website I visit weekly. http://tjrecipes.com/ Check it out if only for the content

This is SO interesting! And bringing up a parallel topic--I think the worst is when an author's website is out of date--which is so off-putting. Or when it's clunky or old-fashioned or looks slapdash. If you;re going to have a website, I think it has to be terrific,you know? Engaging and logical and informative and fun.

I have seen websites of famous authors where it looks like they didn't care about them at all. Which seems like such a missed opportunity! Plus, it gives the impression that the author doesn't care. And that is contagious.

Yes, yes, YES! If it looks like it was put together in the 1990s, or the information is six months' old, it's awful. You might not be able to afford a really slick design (I sure can't), but there are lots of options out there.

I do go to author websites to find information about their books (especially if they are a series author and I want to know the order of the books).

As a member of the Mysteristas group blog, and the person responsible for coordinating/scheduling guests, I rely heavily on author websites. IMNSHO, the web site should be :

1. Easy to navigate.2. Easy to read (light text on a dark background is really hard on the eyes - Hank's is perfect because the sides are black, but all the text is on a lighter background).3. I prefer uncluttered (see 1 and 2).4. Up-to-date: If your news and events are all things that happened six months ago, that's not good.5. Have contact info: This one is HUGE. You may want to push readers to Facebook or Twitter and that's fine. But you should have a way for people to contact you. If you don't want to publicize your email, use a contact form. We have a visiting author next week at Mysteristas - I haven't received his material. He has no website. I found a blog which I am pretty sure is him and he has a page through his publisher, but I have no way of contacting him (I'm also pretty sure his publisher's publicist arranged his visit). If you are promoting yourself, and part of that promotion is visiting somewhere, don't make it so hard to be found.

I'm sorry, that last point got off on a bit of a rant, didn't it?

I've had a couple incarnations of my website (www.lizmilliron.com or www.marysuttonauthor.com - they go to the same place). I pay for hosting and update myself. Not sure it's up to snuff, but hey - I like it a little better each time I do it, so maybe I'll get there some day. LOL

I know what you mean about being able to contact someone, but from the opposite end of the spectrum. I was someone that couldn't be easily contacted.

A few years back I was writing for a website and did a top 10 Mystery/thrillers list. After making sure the list got seen by as many people as I could, a book publicist was trying to get in touch with me. But I didn't have any way for him to find me outside of a general email to the website itself.

I ended up having to join Twitter so he could touch base with me. As it turned out, it was a good, albeit late, decision because it led to me getting advance copies of books to review. And eventually to doing reviews for a magazine.

So the lesson was learned by me. Always be able to be contacted, you never know what might happen.

I am guilty of not being able to be contacted directly through my website. With five series and now multiple genres, it just became too much email to contend with, so my contact points are my agent and my PR people. They either answers the questions or forward them on to me as needed.

Jenn, I can imagine the headache that would ensue if you did have all that email to contend with.

A favorite writer of mine was lamenting just yesterday that he might've erred by making his email public because of the number of ridiculous emails he gets from "fans".

I know from reviewing CDs for a website that getting feedback sent directly to the site and not your individual emails can stop you from firing back on something negative. I once got an email from the frontman of a band that I gave a middling review to their DVD. It still ranks as my favorite feedback. He said that I must be a stupid, unintelligent American for my criticisms of the DVD performance. Now if it had come directly to my email, I would've been sorely tempted to fire back. Instead, it is just a minor amusement to recall the story.

I'm a reader, not a published writer, and I am far more likely to learn of a beloved author's new release from social media than from the author's website. I visit an author's website to check in and see if there is a new book coming, sometimes -- especially if it's been a while. Or often to check the order of books, if I'm catching up on an established series. But I generally only go there when I seek some specific new information. Like Finta (Ann), I rely on Facebook, Amazon, Jungle Reds, the NYT Book Review, and my local library for info on when new books become available.

Hank! I agree with you regarding out of date websites. It is exasperating for me when I check one of my favorite authors' websites to see if she has a book event and the website had not been updated!

I often check authors' websites to see if they are doing a book event or a writing workshop in my area. Several of my favorite authors were on the Book Passage Mystery Writing faculty one year so I signed up for a weekend of writing classes with them. I also like to find out the books in order. And perhaps to find out the name of the book publisher so that when I suggest that my library purchase the book, I can tell them which publisher.

One of the things that I really appreciate about authors' websites is the opportunity to sign up for newsletters to get updates from authors. Sometimes I cannot access the web while I can get text emails.

The other thing that I love about authors' websites and the list of characters with a description of who they are. And I get to see blurbs about the novels by other authors.

I'm wondering whether a website might be more important for a newer author. I've been to most of your sites, for two purposes: to learn about the author in general, and to see whether you're coming to visit my part of the world. Next "level" of user goals for me is to learn more about your books and series (although I tend to use LibraryThing for this, since it includes reviews and discussions), and to fantasize about what my author page might look like some day. I don't immediately go to Amazon, which several people have mentioned, because I have a strong dislike for their practices and prefer to support my local indies.

How often do you update your sites? Do you have a set frequency, or just do it when there is a new book, a new tour, etc.?

I try to update my website when there is something new happening. With four to five books per year coming out and newsletters to accompany them, I'm pretty good about keeping everything up to date but mostly that's because my new agent (we've been together a little over a year) nudged me repeatedly until I cleaned up my website and became more organized about it.

True confession: today is the first time I've been to most of your websites. Years ago I found some blogs I liked through some authors' websites (Harley Jane Kozak's first book, and the links on her website, led me down a rabbit hole of many blogs). Since then I've followed the blogs, mostly.

Hallie, I'm honored to be on your page! I'd forgotten that was there. I think I've checked your site for appearances before, specifically, the Write Like Mad program.

Unless I have a specific reason to visit a site, like checking appearances (a good reason to keep that page current, as per Mary's advice above) or for book series in order, the only other time I check a site is if there's updated content. Web owners should always let their social media followers know when that happens, I think. One author I know used to have contests and she would announce them on Facebook, so I'd mosey on over there periodically. Recipes are good, too!

In the mid 90's, or thereabouts, I was one of the very first individuals in the sewing industry to use the web, first as a page on a friend's group site, and then with my own. I created it myself, using a Microsoft product that is now defunct, and kept it updated constantly, with new products, schedules, and with articles that pertained to my specialty, which was sewing for profit. At the time I was writing for a couple of different print sources, so if I could I added the text to the site. Checking my site stats, those were the pages that got the most traffic, along with the products pages.

Another thing that helped me, and this took awhile since I was a relative pioneer, was to have compatible sites linking my site, and mine linking to theirs. The stats let me see where many of my visitors came from, and I could easily tell whose sites generated the most additional visits for mine. Just like when I clicked through to TLC from Harley's site, years ago.

Organization, with clearly marked tabs for different kinds of content, is my personal preference. I'm not a fan of splash pages, and prefer to get right down to the page with choices. My opinion is that a splash page gives a visitor a reason to ditch; we're all busy, and we tend to make split-second decisions about web pages and content these days. It's also sometimes not clearly evident how to get onto the rest of the site, where the meat of the content lives.

Your website is your best marketing tool, if you think of it as a compendium of all the aspects of your business life: bio, book list--with buy links, schedule, contact info, and personal information, if you feel comfortable with that. Because your personality is by far your greatest asset, next to the quality of your work. Be sure to let that shine through, too.

Karen - you are a pioneer. Very impressive, plus you bring a nice institutional memory to the development of webpages and how they impact viewers. Thank you for sharing and agree that I like a get down to business page. Don't dazzle me, I'm looking for information but that could be the librarian in me. LOL.

Your website is so easy to navigate. Thank you. I love the maps for Garden of Lamentations. And I appreciate the visual photos of your books with the numbers so we know the order of books. And I love the Q&A.

I agree with what you are saying regarding out-of-date websites, and you usually don't know when new content is put on. It's much easier for me to get updates via the author's newsletters or FB posts about events/upcoming releases. Or as mentioned in a recent post, when an author has a great VA like Jenel, I go to the author's websites for members' extras: recipes, puzzles, swag, prizes!

On occasion I check out the websites of authors that I read. I'm usually either looking for an update on when there might be a new book coming out or information on their book signing tours.

I think because I follow a few authors on Facebook and I'm friends with a couple of other ones I do tend to gravitate more to their pages there. Plus where else can I see Ingrid Thoft's Friday Videos? :D

I'm not one for being knocked out by a website of any kind. If it works and I can find what I want easily enough, I'm happy.

As soon as I hear about a new-to-me author I race over to their website to find out about them and their books. If I like what I see, I check the publication order to find out what to read first. I suppose I could get some of that at Goodreads, but I prefer to see the full story.

What I like to read at author websites (besides details about their books and the order to read them is backstory about the stories and character, the writer's background and how they came to be inspired about their series. Any other areas they write in. I'm as interested in the writers as in the books. (I never understand the people who say that only the story counts, that the author's life and mindset is immaterial.)

If the author has no website (except as created by their publisher) or if it's clearly out of date ("New release coming in April 2016!") I feel a bit of distance, but I can usually find the information elsewhere.

It wouldn't occur to me to start with Amazon for author information.

Websites, or rather, blogs, I visit on a regular basis, are mostly those of multiple authors, like Jungles Reds. Also Type M for Murder or Murder is Everywhere.

Susan - I do the same thing. Mostly, I'm looking (hoping) to see if they have a ton of books that I haven't found as yet and if it is a series, by all that is holy, put it in some sort of chronological order!

I will go to author websites if I am trying to find out information about appearances or get some other little bit of information. Last night, I went to an author's website to find out the exact name of one of their series.

For new releases, I usually am haunting Amazon, so I already know before the author announces them on Facebook or their site. And yes, Facebook and other social media is so hit and miss. It's what the platform decides to show people that matters.

Of course, I look for the standard things like easy to navigate website, printable book lists, coming soon, etc... Honestly though, since that type of info can be found in a number of places, what I really like is a website that allows me to get to know the author better. Page(s) where they share more of themselves, like favorite recipes, if they have hobbies of any kind, things going on in their life that they can share pictures of, you know, that personal touch. Sites that make you want to spend time there. It also enables the author to post things on FB that sends them to their website on a regular basis. One of my clients seizes this opportunity as often as possible and it works well for her.

I'm afraid the only time I go to author websites is to get any possible tour dates/places; I'm in the middle of the flyover states, but it never hurts to check! As many have said, that's usually the best place to get "series in order" lists, too. I rely heavily on FictFact to notify me of any new releases. I "subscribe" all my series and get a weekly email with that week's releases and updates. Amazon's notifications are a joke: "Coming soon!" and then it's a release date that is 6 months out! I put FictFact notifications on my calendar and don't pre-order books but usually buy them on the release date, certainly for any of the Jungle Reds (why not preorder? I don't know, I just like the anticipation!) I do use Amazon's author pages if I'm on the fence about a new-to-me author, usually having navigated there from the New Hardback Release list at Wait Wait You're Killing Me. I do follow my favorite authors on Facebook and especially enjoy the chats from John Sandford's camp and from William Kent Krueger, and I've been a member of Dana Stabenow's Danamaniacs, now FB-based, for years. Dana's blog posts are great, too.

I love Dana! She comes to the Poisoned Pen near me and I try to never miss her. She's building a writer's retreat in Alaska and I desperately want to go. I am appalled that I have never heard of FictFact - I'm going to check it out today! Thank you.

You are very welcome, but be aware that it is addictive...! I'm happy to support their site financially as I can't live without it! And I got Wait Wait the radio shop mixed up with StopYoureKillingMe, how silly of me, but I do love them both. Yes, Storyknife would be a dream come true, wouldn't it?

There are three reasons I go to other authors' websites. First, checking on what's up to date in design, etc. Second, needing photos or bios or more information about a writer I'm hosting on Jungle Red. And third, when I discover a new writer that I like and want to find out more about them. Oh, and a forth, I do sometimes check websites to see if someone has a new book coming out.

I do try to keep mine updated, but it's a big job and sometimes it gets pushed to the bottom of the list.

Deborah, I love your work and eagerly await every new book, so I want you to know I'm not trolling! I looked at your site, and it is quite nice. But doesn't Gemma James spell her name with a "G"? I'm sorry! If it were me, I'd want somebody to tell me! But otherwise the site is great, and to answer your question Jenn, I do visit author's sites, to see what other people are doing, and to get a chronology when I find a new series that interests me. Also Amazon, but almost never Facebook.

I love authors websites! I go to them to get all the information. I also love when my favorite authors do email news letters. I am trying to cut face book out of my life so please don't stop using websites!

As a writer, I agree with Debs: The website needs to be updated, but sometimes that can seem like a big job and less pressing than other tasks. As a reader, I rarely go to another writer's site unless I need to know more about them to host them on JRW. I find out almost all my info from FB and Twitter. This all kind of circles back to what we were talking about on Monday, and the question of where to put your focus and energy when trying to engage readers. I don't think anyone has cracked the code, particularly since the technology changes so fast. Once you figure one thing out, it's on to the next!

Like Dru, I usually head to Amazon for a new author to check out their books they've written and then proceed to the website to find out more about the author personally. For me, up-to-date is the number one requirement, and then easy to navigate.

Jenn, your control enthusiasm works beautifully for you. So much information immediately at my fingertips for you, without it being at all cluttered looking. The purchase buttons and the contact buttons are a great touch. And, having the book trailer on the home page is a great hook. I love the link to your Pinterest board.

Hallie, the covers of your books to the left and the events listing on your home page are especially great aspects of your blog. I love the top pictures, too, the window and you, with the blood drops (nice). Your pictures and videos on down are enticing, too, and your contact info at the end is well placed. The Pinterest buttons are nicely convenient, too.

Lucy, I love the Key West graphics on your Lucy site, with your book covers all there. Your tweet and blog features are great personal touches, and the picture with Tonka is a favorite for me. Also, your contact info is easily noticeable, and I like that you have your Pinterest link. Jenn also has this link. And, on both the Lucy and Roberta sites, the Pinterest buttons appear right over the books when the cursor runs over them. I like seeing your other books on the Roberta site, too. Have you thought about combining the two sites?

Debs, that picture of London is amazing. The photos that come up with a shade for different areas, such as photos, events, and news is most clever. And, the map feature is just out-of-this-world fantastic. Such easy access from your different area buttons at the top, too, and the Pinterest buttons are a nice feature.

Ingrid, that city scene is awesome. I love that you have the order of your books right there on the home page with the colorful covers making a nice splash against the gray background of the city. Your recent news on the home page gives me immediate connection to what is currently going on with you. And, the lovely Pinterest buttons are there, too

Oh, Hank that photo of you by Iden Ford is so special to me. Besides being a spectacular photo of you, Iden Ford was so gracious to send me a copy of it when I complimented it (well, gushed over it). The changing endorsements of your writing by authors and others is a nice feature, too. The color scheme is very appealing, and the "enter site" button takes readers to a load of interesting material.

The reason I was so pleased to see the Pinterest buttons and links is that I have a Pinterest board for the different Jungle Red authors, so it will make it easy for me to post material to them. Jenn and Ingrid, I don't have your boards up yet, but I will be working on those in June.

Spent the night at my daughter's last night babysitting the grandgirls, so I'm just not checking back in. Glad you all enjoyed the feedback. You really do have great author sites. And, yes, Hank. I look forward to that story.

I follow 4 or 5, maybe 6 authors on Facebook, mostly to find out when their next book is coming out. I have visited author websites to find book order and find out more about them personally. Some of the authors treat Facebook like a normal person and post things like pics of their cats, what is going on at their house, etc and I certainly enjoy that like I would from any other Facebook friend. Other authors use Facebook strictly as a marketing tool or to promote their book signings,etc. I often look authors up on wikipedia as well if I am curious about them.

I often visit author websites for books in order, to see if anything is coming up I've missed (although most author websites I check aren't up-to-date as it is so this doesn't help), sometimes to see if they mail bookmarks or bookplates (especially if I'm giving books as gifts which I love to do) and maybe see if they run contests from the website vs. facebook or twitter.

I seldom visit the author's website unless I have a peculiar or specific thing I am looking for, such as background to a novel (geography, history, linguistic) or I want to find contact info. To keep up with what is now, what order a series was published in, etc., I use two sources:The Bloodstained BookshelfStopyourekillingme.com

I follow my favs on Amazon and I'm then notified about new books. I have visited websites, but not often. I just visited Peter Grainger's and just love it. It's simple and atmospheric- he's an "indy" author and I love his writing.

Late to the party again...but truthfully, caring for aging parents and other obligations, I'm pressed for time these days. So no, I don't visit authors' websites as often as I used to. FB & a few blogs like this are enough to keep me going, but I DO visit sites from time-to-time. Esp. when it's a new-to-me writer, or something major that points me to that direction.

Jungle Red Writers has been named one of the top 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writers Digest, one of the top 50 mystery blogs by CourtReporter, and one of the top 100 creative writing blogs by Best Colleges Online